Page 47 of After Midnight (Skye Druids #7)

Chapter Forty-Two

“ What the bloody hell is going on?” Carlyle asked as he drove behind Sabryn and Kurt .

Finn had one hand on the dashboard as he turned to look behind him. “ I’ve no fekking idea. No one is following us.”

“ I don’t like this. Not one goddamn bit.”

Finn shook his head as he looked at him. “ Nothing good will come of this. Are you sure we should’ve left Song with Elias and Bronwyn at the restaurant?”

“ Not in the least. Call Rhona . I have a feeling we’re going to need more help.”

The drive with Parker was ten times as tense as when they had driven with Diana .

Sabryn understood Kurt’s hesitation to go anywhere with his family.

The only thing that kept her from losing her cool was knowing their friends had their backs.

And maybe if Sabryn willed it hard enough, she could manifest not just Parker’s and Diana’s defeat, but the Edinburgh Druids ’, and Edie and the Big Bad .

We will win. We will win. We will win.

She adjusted her clammy hands on the steering wheel.

Parker whistled in the back seat as if they were chums off on a fun jaunt.

She had never thought of herself as particularly violent before.

She had always stood up for those who couldn’t—or wouldn’t—but today, she could only think about removing Parker and Diana from the face of the Earth forever.

Because they were evil.

They had dared to hurt Kurt .

And they would happily take lives to forward their plans for power.

Her heart had yet to stop pounding. Her stress level was to the max and had been from the moment Diana landed on Skye .

If they came out of this alive, Sabryn would need a nice, long vacation.

She cut her gaze to Kurt to find him sitting with his hands clenched atop his legs, eyes forward, scowling out the window.

If what Diana had told her about her ability was true, then why get in the car?

Why weren’t Parker or Diana more afraid of her?

Unless what she had done earlier against Edie was nothing more than a fluke.

Maybe it was something that happened only once.

That could explain their seeming lack of concern.

Parker directed her with one- or two-word directives. Her nerves were frayed by the time she finally pulled to a stop on a grassy slope. Ahead was a white sandy beach and crystal-clear water reminiscent of a Caribbean island. But the boat bobbing in the shallow water sent a chill down her spine.

“ What a beautiful day,” Parker declared as he opened the door and started to climb out. When no one moved, he ducked back in. “ Don’t make me force you out.”

Kurt met her gaze before grabbing the handle and shoving open his door.

Sabryn hesitated for only a moment before exiting.

As soon as she was outside, a rush of wind surrounded her.

She listened, hoping to hear some kind of warning, even though she knew she was already in danger.

Unfortunately , the wind remained steadfastly silent.

“ You need to know the rest,” Diana whispered as she came up beside Sabryn .

She ignored the older woman and moved to take a step.

Diana’s hand fastened around her wrist, holding her firmly. Her gaze was direct as she held Sabryn’s eyes. “ You need to know the rest.”

“ Then tell me.”

The viscountess released her when Parker moved around the front of the vehicle. He walked backward again and motioned for them to follow him. Once he faced forward, Kurt stopped and shook his head at Sabryn , telling her he wasn’t going anywhere.

“ Not now,” Diana said, leaning close to Sabryn . “ I need time to tell you the rest.”

It could be a trick. It was likely a trick. Still , the idea of uncovering hidden secrets about her family was too alluring to pass up. She followed Diana and held Kurt’s gaze. He frowned at her, confusion filling his face. After a moment, he sighed in frustration and fell into step with her.

“ Tell me,” Sabryn insisted.

The older woman tucked a strand of blond hair that had come loose from her bun behind her ear. “ The power only manifests in Beaumont females, but it co?—”

She halted when Parker looked over his shoulder at them. “ You three are dawdling. That simply won’t do.”

“ Fuck off,” Kurt countered.

The smile vanished from Parker’s face as he stopped and slowly turned to look at his brother. “ Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed of killing you?”

Sabryn and Diana froze. She didn’t pull away when Diana tugged her closer as Parker walked up to Kurt .

“ I always knew you hated me,” Kurt said.

Parker nodded, his brows rising. “ I never tried to hide it. I should’ve been born first.”

“ The power comes at a cost,” Diana whispered into Sabryn’s ear, dividing her attention from what was happening with the brothers. “ A big cost.”

Sabryn shot her a quick look. She was torn between Diana and watching Kurt’s back. She couldn’t do both.

“ You blame me for being born before you?” Kurt barked a laugh. “ That’s so you.”

Diana roughly grabbed her arm to get her attention. “ Did you hear me?”

“ Yes ,” Sabryn hissed while trying to pay attention to Kurt .

“ This might be the only chance I have to tell you, so listen,” Diana insisted.

Sabryn jerked her head to the viscountess. “ Then talk fast, because I’m not going to give Parker another chance to take Kurt’s life.”

Diana’s eyes narrowed briefly. “ The only way you survive your power is if you have a tether.”

“ A what?” she asked as she darted a look at Kurt , who was still exchanging barbs with his brother.

“ A tether. If you don’t, you will die.”

That got Sabryn’s attention. “ Why ? How ?”

“ There isn’t enough time for that,” she said urgently. “ If Kurt asked for this information, it’s because you’ve already experienced something. Am I right?”

“ Yes .”

Diana’s lips flattened. “ That’s what I thought. Who brought you down?”

“ Down ?” Sabryn repeated, then thought about how she had come to with Kurt’s arms around her, holding her from behind. She looked at him.

“ I was afraid of that,” Diana murmured.

Sabryn returned her focus to the woman. “ Why ?”

Diana never got a chance to reply because her attention moved over Sabryn’s shoulder. She heard Diana’s quick intake of breath and turned in time to see a man coming up behind Kurt .

“ Kurt !” Sabryn yelled in warning.

He pivoted, but not before the man’s magic struck. Kurt stumbled but managed to stay on his feet.

“ You never could handle your own fights,” he taunted Parker .

“ Stop this,” she ordered Diana .

The viscountess’s lips twisted. “ I can’t.”

“ Can’t or won’t?” Sabryn asked furiously.

“ Can’t . I didn’t tell Parker I was here.”

Sabryn frowned. “ Why should I believe you? You’ve done nothing but follow what Parker wants.”

“ Should I have made a scene at the restaurant and took a chance that people might die? You didn’t.”

Two more men and a woman came into view, each focused on Kurt .

Sabryn moved to intervene when Parker tsked, shaking a finger at her as he turned his full attention on her.

Magic , warm and robust, flowed through her body before pooling in her palms. The smell of the sea tickled her nose as a steady wind came off the water.

She sidestepped away from Diana to put some distance between them as she prepared to battle Parker .

Sabryn glanced at Kurt and found him being pelted by the others’ magic.

He was shielding himself, but that wouldn’t last long.

Thankfully , the Knights would come charging in to help any moment now.

She only needed to keep Parker occupied until then.

“ Things would’ve been so much easier if you hadn’t canceled plans with your father that day,” Parker said.

Sabryn shrugged. “ That’s me. A constant disappointment.”

“ Not for much longer.”

“ Diana never sent you to kill me,” she guessed.

Parker chuckled as he darted a look at his mother. “ What does she call me? Her perfect soldier because I follow orders. And I do, but they aren’t always hers.”

They were circling each other now, each waiting for the other to strike. Sabryn wanted to check on Kurt but didn’t dare give Parker any advantages. “ You’re one of those, then.”

“ One of those?” he asked snidely, his eyes narrowing.

“ The weasel characters. The ones who align themselves to more powerful individuals thinking they’ll get the glory and ranking they believe they’re entitled to. Except it never happens. They always get their comeuppance in the end.”

Parker smirked. “ You have me mistaken for someone else. I could explain it, but I just don’t want to.”

“ I’m so grateful since I couldn’t give a rat’s ass,” she retorted.

His face tightened with anger. “ I’m glad I get to be the one to shut that smart mouth of yours forever.”

“ Bring it on.”

Parker lunged. Sabryn shielded herself with magic, only to see him throw up his hands to either side.

One blast was directed at Kurt , and the other at Diana .

It was so unexpected that Sabryn couldn’t move for a moment.

She watched in horror as Kurt dropped to the ground, unmoving.

The Druids swooped in and lifted him before running to the beach.

Sabryn started to follow when magic struck her side, spinning her around. She lost her balance and fell, rolling to her feet. She bit back a cry of pain at the wounds on her back but shoved it aside as she found her footing and lobbed a round of magic at Parker .

They traded shots while Sabryn inched her way toward the shore to go after Kurt .

Parker’s magic was stronger than the last time she had encountered him, and by the smile on his face, he knew it.

She was having trouble blocking him. More of his rounds hit her than not.

Sabryn stayed on her feet by sheer will alone.

Then next thing she knew, Parker sent a blast at her legs, knocking them out from under her. Sabryn landed hard on her stomach, one arm beneath her, as her breath left her on a whoosh. She gasped for air and looked up to see Parker leaning over Diana , who was now on the ground.

Sabryn forced herself to her hands and knees. She gathered her magic once more and readied herself to fire at Parker when he was suddenly right in front of her, his hands around her throat and squeezing. She pressed her palms against his chest and released her magic. He grunted but didn’t let go.

“ Do you feel my power? Of course, you do. I know the secret of Skye . That the Druids here are losing their magic,” he said, his blue eyes wild. “ And I know exactly where it’s going.”

His fingers continued to tighten as he cut off her air.

She clawed at his hands and watched his smile turn crazed.

Suddenly , he grunted and jerked. He twitched a second time before releasing her and spinning around with a bellow of rage.

Sabryn’s lungs filled with delicious air.

She coughed, her hand flying to her throat as she spotted Finn and Carlyle battling Parker .

Her gaze swung to Diana , who’d propped herself up on one elbow with her other hand against her side, blood seeping between her fingers.

Sabryn hurried to her, trying to find the wound. “ Where are you hurt?”

“ Stop . Stop !” Diana insisted, shoving her hands away.

She looked up at the older woman. “ You need help.”

“ And you need to find Kurt .” Diana shot a pointed look over Sabryn’s shoulder.

She turned to see Parker running into the waves before being pulled aboard the twin-engine boat. The driver gunned the motors as the boat sped off.

“ You need him,” Diana said.

Sabryn heard footsteps quickly approaching and glanced over to see Finn and Carlyle running toward her. “ I know, but we need to tend to you.”

“ It’s nothing,” Diana stated. “ If you give in to your power again without Kurt , you will die, and the evil trying to take over will win.”

Sabryn stilled. “ You know?”

“ Research into your family also meant research into Skye . The last Beaumont with your ability was the sky pillar. The evil only needs to take out you or your tether. Now , go get Kurt .”

Finn headed toward the beach as Carlyle slid to a halt beside them. He was breathing hard, looking from Sabryn to Diana .

“ Go . I’m fine,” the older woman insisted.

Sabryn nodded and jumped to her feet as she heard an approaching engine coming from the water.

“ Come on,” Carlyle beckoned, taking her hand. “ We called in reinforcements.”

Sabryn took one last look at Diana before racing toward the shore, where Callum was pulling up in a center-console boat.